Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Turns 40

Saturday, December 31, 2011 marks the 40^th anniversary of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.  The show started on NBC during 1972-1973 but since New Year’s Eve 1973, the show has always been on the Alphabet Network.  Besides changing networks, the show has gone through a number of transformations in the past couple of years with the additions of Co-Host/Executive Producer Ryan Seacrest and correspondents Fergie and Jenny McCarthy… one thing has stayed the same since 1971, the show has produced incredible musical performances from amazing musical guests.

Here are some of the best performances from several past shows:

Billy Joel-We Didn’t Start the Fire (ABC 2000)

 

The legendary Piano Man was featured in ABC’s coverage of the millennium television news special.   With the help of his band, Billy Joel delivered a rousing version of his classic song.

Click here to watch the superb performance: http://youtu.be/qPmLdkXWp0Q

Mariah Carey-It’s Like That/Shake It Off (Rockin Eve 2006)

 

The first live performance in Times Square on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in 34 years belonged to Grammy Winner Mariah Carey.   The R&B Superstar performed two of her songs from her 2005 comeback album: The Emancipation of Mimi.   In addition, the prequel to the performance featured Dick Clark’s return since his stroke.

To watch Clark’s speech and Carey’s performance, click here: http://youtu.be/MiSV5OZKpvw

Carrie Underwood-Medley (Rockin Eve 2008)

 

Carrie Underwood performed a medley of her hits including “Flat on the Floor,” “All-American Girl,” and “Before He Cheats.” She soared on her live vocals for her three songs.   This is one of the best vocal performances that this author has seen in years from this show.

Click here to view Carrie’s performance: http://youtu.be/xMcJqe_0PG0

Jennifer Lopez-Medley (Rockin Eve 2010)

 

Not to be outdone by Underwood, two years later…Jennifer Lopez took the Times Square stage and wowed the crowd with medley of her hits including her new single at the time “Louboutins,” a remix of “Waiting for Tonight” and “Let’s Get Loud.”

To see Jennifer Lopez rock out Times Square, click here: http://youtu.be/ZJ4ESiQ0ejA

New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys (Rockin Eve 2011)

 

Two of the best boy bands of the 1990s came together for a phenomenal performance that featured each group’s classic songs.  Time has matured their voices but these men brought their A-game and proved that they were stronger together and apart.

Click here to watch these super groups perform: http://youtu.be/Q8IIu6wSRwc

I do not own all of these clips!  The clips that were featured in this blog post belong to the American Broadcast Company and Dick Clark Productions.